Pushbutton-controlled valve for feeding fuel gas to a burner for gas stoves or the like, with a system for visualizing operating conditions

ABSTRACT

A valve device with tripping pushbutton control for fuel gas feeding to a burner, the pushbutton comprising a member shiftable by each actuation of the pushbutton and carrying indication marks appearing alternately through a window in accord with the actuation of the pushbutton.

United States Patent 3,581,765 [72] lnvenior Pier Luigi deStefani [51] Int. Cl ..Fl6k 37/00, Padova, Italy F 1 6k 31/44 [2]] Appl No. 854,664 [50] Field of Search 137/553; 122 Filed Sept. 2. I969 251 230 [45] Patented June I, 1971 [73] Assignee Societa ltaliana Tecnomeccanica La References C t d Precisa" di Dr. Pier Luigi e Sig. Giancarlo UNITED STATES PATENTS gg gsg 'r 3,220,695 1 1/1965 Downey et al. 251/230x 3,238,968 19 32 1 Priority Sept. 19,1968 3/ 66 Peels 137/556 [33] Italy Primary ExaminerHenry T. Klinksiek [31 3 g 5 At10rneysGuido Modiano and Albert Josif [54] PUSHBU'I'ION-CONTROLLED VALVE FOR FEEDING FUEL GAS TO A BURNER FOR GAS STOVES OR THE LIKE, WITH A SYSTEM FOR VISUALIZING OPERATING CONDITIONS ABSTRACT: A valve device with tripping pushbutton control for fuel gas feeding to a burner, the pushbutton comprising a member shiftable by each actuation of the pushbutton and 6claims4nrawing Figs carrying indication marks appearing alternately through a [52] U.S.Cl 137/553 wi w n accord with the actuation of the pushbutton- ,9 E9 12 If L3 1 a n I 7 25 g. g 3Z8 ,2 .3 I

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PATENIEMI Mm WII-Q INVENTOR. PIER LUIGI DE'STEFANI PUSIIBUTTON-CONTROLLED VALVE FOR FEEDING FUEL GAS TO A BURNER FOR GAS STOVES OR THIIE LIKE, WITH A SYSTEM FOR VISUALIZING OPERATING CONDITIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of this invention is to overcome this limitation of conventional gas apparatus by permitting burner operating conditions to be visualized.

A further object of this invention is to attach such a visualizing system to the feed gas valve for the burner, so permitting conditions of operation to be known in the location in which the actuation is carried out, which may modify such conditions.

A further object of this invention is to provide visualization by means of symbols which are conventional or individually associable with a particular operating condition. The device for controlling fuel gas feed to a burner according to this invention comprises at least one valve controlled by a pushbutton which trips alternately or in succession into two positions corresponding to two operating conditions of the burner and a member movable under a viewing window carrying indications related to the positions of the corresponding pushbutton,

said pushbutton and relative member being connected together so that in a first pushbutton position a first indication is in view, and on pushing the pushbutton this trips into its other position and simultaneously the indicating member shows its other indication under the window.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING F urthercharacteristics and advantages of the invention will be clear from the following description with reference by way of example to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a lateral elevational view, partially sectioned, of a valve according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section through the line lI-ll of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembly, on an enlarged scale, of thevisualizing system of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the various figures of the same reference numerals have been used to indicate corresponding parts.

The valve represented serves for feeding a burner with a pilot flame and principal flame adjustable in the minimum or maximum position. Such a valve comprises a valve body 1 defining a chamber 2 communicating by means of the port 2b with a feed conduit 3 with port 4 connected to the gas supply, and with a delivery conduit 5 comprising two ports 6 and 6a, one of which connects to the conduit leading to the principal flame of the burner and the other can be closed with a plug. The two ports 6 and 6a are provided for facilitating connection to the principal burner. From the port 2b runs a conduit 7 which leads toa chamber 8 with a port 9 for connecting to the feed conduit of the pilot flame. A low flow conduit 10 whose flow is varied by the adjusting screw leads from the chamber 2 and communicates with the exit conduit 5. Communication between the feed conduit 3 and the chamber 2 is closable by means of a cap valve 1] controlled by a pushbutton 12 by way of a stem 13 and thrust into the open position by a spring 14, while communication between the chamber 2 and the delivery conduit 5 is closable by means of a similar cap valve 21 controlled by a pushbutton 22 by way of a stem 23 and thrust in the open position by a spring 24. The cap 11 or 21 is pushed downwards against a disc or respectively keyed to the base of the stem 13 or 23 respectively by a spring I9 or 29 respectively so that during the descent phase of a pushbutton it rests rigid with this latter until it meets its seat. At this point the pushbutton can be further lowered without difficulty while the cap slides along the stem maintained in contact with itsown seat. On allowing the pushbutton to rise, at a certain point said disc again enters into contact with the cap and entrains it upwards, as will be clarified hereinafter.

The upper part of the valve body 1 is closed by a cover 16 from which the pushbuttons l2 and 22 project. In the feed conduit 3 a thermoelectric safety device 17 of usual type is provided, whose cap 18 completely closes the feed conduit 3 when the burner is completely extinguished and at rest. Each pushbutton l2 and 22 is attached to an indicator assembly for indicating its position and hence the relative operational condition of the burner. As the indicator assembly is virtually identical for the two pushbuttons l2 and 22 with the exception of the identification symbols used, only the indication assembly M of the pushbutton 12 will be described in detail. Said indicator assembly 31 comprises a bush 32 rotatably mounted on a stem 33 projecting from the valve body ll and provided at the top with a disc 34 partially visible through a window 35. The disc 34 is divided into alternate sectors identifying the conditions of operation corresponding to the two positions of the pushbutton 12, as will be seen hereinafter. For example a red sector may indicate the in operation condi tion and a black sector the pilot condition. In the embodiment shown there are six sectors, three for each position of the pushbutton, but obviously their number may be different. On the wall of the bush 32 there is a coiled channel 36 bordered at the bottom by notches 37 each of equal depth, and at the top by notches 38 of small depth and notches 39 of much greater depth which alternate. In theconsidered case of six sectors on the disc 34, there will be six notches 37, three notches 38 and three notches 39. The notches 37, 38, 39 are bounded by wall along the longitudinal axis of the bush, and by an inclined plane. A pin 40 projecting from the pushbutton 12 is engaged in the channel 36, because of which when the pushbutton 12 is pushed the bush 32 is slightly rotated in the direction of the arrow by the effect of the action between the pin 40 and the inclined plane of the corresponding lower notch 37, and on disengaging the pushbutton 12 the pin 40 is returned inside the upper notch so causing a further rotation of the bush 32 so that the immediately successive sector shows through the win dow 35. The pin 40 limits the expulsion stroke of the pushbutton 12 by its engagement in one or other of the upper notches. An analogous indicator assembly is associated with the push button 22. In the indicator assembly 41 a disc visible through a window 45 is divided into sectors alternately bearings the sign or as shown, which correspond to maximum or minimum operation. Naturally such symbols as M and m could be used instead, indicating maximum and minimum respectively, etc. The operation of the device described above is as follows:

Consider the valve in the condition shown in FIG. 2, namely in the usual flame extinguished rest position with both the assembly 17, which closes the feed conduit 3 with its cap 18, and the pushbuttons 12 and 22 in the expelled position, i.e. with the caps 11 and 21 raised (valves open) and the red sector (alight) and the sector (maximum) visible through the windows 35 and 45.

On pushing the pushbutton 12 the cap 18 is thrust downwards and the pilot burner is fed by way of the passage 7, 8, 9, and is lit. The pilot flame maintains the assembly 17 fed and the cap 18 lowered by means of a thermocouple, so ensuring gas entry. Simultaneously the valve 11 is snapped into the closed position where it is held by the pin 40 of the pushbutton I2 engaging with a notch 38. The height of the notch 38 is in fact such as to retain the pushbutton l2 and in an intermediate position not sufficient to cause raising of the cap 11 by the disc 20 and consequent opening of the valve.

The disc 34 has been rotated during this phase bringing a black sector (pilot) into view. If the main burner is to be lit the pushbutton 12 is again pushed, by which means the pin 40 is brought into the successive notch 39, i.e. into a more expelled position. This position is sufficient to cause raising of the cap 11 by the disc 20 (valve open), bringing the pushbutton into the position of maximum expulsion while the rotation of the disc 34 renders a red sector visible. Under such conditions the gas passes from the feed conduit 3 to the chamber 2 and from here to the delivery conduit 5. both directly as the cap 21 is raised (valve open) and by way ofthe conduit 10. The red sector and the sector with the sign both being in view indicate that the burner is in its maximum operating condition. In order to operate the burner at a minimum it is sufficient to push the pushbutton 22 with consequent closure of the cap valve 21 and simultaneous rotation of the disc 44 such that the sign appears. ln this condition the gas from chamber 2 passes to the delivery conduit only by way of the low flow conduit whose throughput is adjustable, so giving rise to the minimum operating condition.

lclaim:

l. A valve device with pushbutton control for feeding fuel gas to a burner comprising at least one valve controlling the flow of fuel gas, a pushbutton actuating said valve, means causing said pushbutton to trip alternately upon actuation into at least two positions corresponding to at least two operating conditions of the burner, a viewing window, a member movable under said viewing window and carrying indication marks related to the position of the corresponding pushbutton, means connecting said pushbutton and said member thereby to place a first of said indication marks under said viewing window in a first pushbutton position and on pushing the pushbutton in another position to place another of said indication marks under the window.

2. A valve as claimed in claim 1, in which said member is provided with means for delimiting the position of its corresponding pushbutton in relation to the operation.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said member comprises a rotatably mounted bush provided at its top with a disc with sectors bearing indication marks which alternate upon rotation of the bush by one sector at each pushbutton command.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the bush wall is provided with a groove of serpentine form extending downwards into notches of same depth and upwards into notches of two different heights which alternate, said notches having a plane surface portion lying in a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the bush and a cooperation surface portion inclined with respect to said plane, thereby to cause at each pushbutton command a successive sector to appear under the window, while the pushbutton snaps into the upper successive notch which defines its expulsion stroke.

5. A valve for feeding gas to a burner with a pilot flame and a principal flame according to claim 1, adjustable for maximum or minimum operation, comprising a valve body (I) defining a chamber (2) communicating with a feed conduit (3) and a delivery conduit (5) by way ofa port (21)), in which the port (2b) also communicates with a pilot flame feed conduit (7) and the delivery conduit (5) communicates with said chamber (2) by way ofa low flow conduit (10), and communication between the feed conduit (3) and chamber (2) is closable by means of a cap valve (11) controlled by a pushbutton (12) linked to a member (31) bearing indications relative to extinguishedand alight" operation, while communication between the delivery conduit (5) and chamber (2) is closable by means ofa cap valve (21) controlled by a pushbutton (22) linked to a member (41) bearing indications relative to maximum and minimum operation.

6. A valve as claimed in claim 5, in which a thermoelectric safety device (17) is mounted in the feed conduit (3). 

1. A valve device with pushbutton control for feeding fuel gas to a burner comprising at least one valve controlling the flow of fuel gas, a pushbutton actuating said valve, means causing said pushbutton to trip alternately upon actuation into at least two positions corresponding to at least two operating conditions of the burner, a viewing window, a member movable under said viewing window and carrying indication marks related to the position of the corresponding pushbutton, means connecting said pushbutton and said member thereby to place a first of said indication marks under said viewing window in a first pushbutton position and on pushing the pushbutton in another position to place another of said indication marks under the window.
 2. A valve as claimed in claim 1, in which said member is provided with means for delimiting the position of its corresponding pushbutton in relation to the operation.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which said member comprises a rotatably mounted bush provided at its top with a disc with sectors bearing indication marks which alternate upon rotation of the bush by one sector at each pushbutton command.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the bush wall is provided with a groove of serpentine form extending downwards into notches of same depth and upwards into notches of two different heights which alternate, said notches having a plane surface portion lying in a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the bush and a cooperation surface portion inclined with respect to said plane, thereby to cause at each pushbutton command a successive sector to appear under the window, while the pushbutton snaps into the upper successive notch which defines its expuLsion stroke.
 5. A valve for feeding gas to a burner with a pilot flame and a principal flame according to claim 1, adjustable for maximum or minimum operation, comprising a valve body (1) defining a chamber (2) communicating with a feed conduit (3) and a delivery conduit (5) by way of a port (2b), in which the port (2b) also communicates with a pilot flame feed conduit (7) and the delivery conduit (5) communicates with said chamber (2) by way of a low flow conduit (10), and communication between the feed conduit (3) and chamber (2) is closable by means of a cap valve (11) controlled by a pushbutton (12) linked to a member (31) bearing indications relative to ''''extinguished'''' and ''''alight'''' operation, while communication between the delivery conduit (5) and chamber (2) is closable by means of a cap valve (21) controlled by a pushbutton (22) linked to a member (41) bearing indications relative to maximum and minimum operation.
 6. A valve as claimed in claim 5, in which a thermoelectric safety device (17) is mounted in the feed conduit (3). 